What happens to the skin if you wear makeup to the gym?
It is now common to see many people going to the gym or sweating outdoors without removing their makeup.
Maybe the combination of makeup and sweat seems harmless, but a new study reveals how wearing foundation during a workout could significantly affect skin health.
Researchers from A&M University in San Antonio, Texas, investigated how cosmetic foundation is linked to skin conditions in the midst of physical exercise. Their study observed 43 healthy male and female college students as they participated in a 20-minute treadmill exercise session. For a more comprehensive analysis, participants applied foundation to one side of the face, leaving the other half untouched.
After the workout, an interesting pattern emerged in various skin metrics, including moisture, elasticity, pore size, sebum (the oily substance secreted by skin glands), and oil levels. Specifically:
- Both in the areas with foundation and without, an increase in moisture and elasticity was observed, highlighting the enhancement of hydration caused by sweat.
- However, blocked pores, increased sebum production, and an imbalance in natural oil levels were detected in the area of the face with foundation.
Fitness: What happens if you have foundation on your face?
The researchers identified 4 key findings:
- Boosting moisture and elasticity: Exercise naturally increases skin hydration and elasticity, but wearing foundation seems to enhance this effect, possibly by locking in more moisture. The team observed a higher level of post-exercise moisture in areas with foundations compared to those without.
- Pore size : The pores in the no-makeup zones were significantly enlarged after exercise, a natural response that helps cool the body. Makeup appeared to impede this growth, hinting at the potential for blocked pores caused by the application of foundation.
- Increased Sebum: Researchers observed a stark contrast in sebum levels after exercise. Areas with foundation showed a significant increase, suggesting that makeup could be preventing the skin’s natural process of managing and shedding sebum effectively.
- Imbalance of natural oils: In the quest for balanced skin oiliness, exercising without makeup seems beneficial. The study found that areas with foundation showed a reduction in oil levels after exercise, possibly suggesting that makeup may be exacerbating skin dryness.
In summary, although the desire to look good even at the gym is understandable, the potential effects on skin health cannot be ignored. The elements converge towards avoiding makeup during training so that the skin can breathe, regulate temperature, and maintain a natural moisture and oil balance.
The research was published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.